The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-08-26

TALL. The occasion was one that Will ever - :,
emain bright in the memory OF those
rho survived that fearful onslaught OF r
1852, for IL has been the means OF bring t
ng together many of those who fought 4
ide by side at that time and who have :.
ince been separated and remained
strangers to each other. 1t has made
I'D men young again, if only for day,
md caused their dull eyes to flash with
he fire of youth and patriotism, their
cheeks to flush with pride as deeds OF +,
heroism were recounted and old land
marks pointed to, and made their blood
run hot with hatred at the red mans
accursed deeds of murder when some
particular name was mentioned OF one
who had succumbed to the awful charge
of the enemy. These facts alone are
worth great deal to those who strug-
gled 80 hard to save the lives of innocent
men, women and children. To-day's
programme opened with parade, fol-
lowed with speeches from various par
ties. Col Pfaender spoke in German,
and through the courtesy of the editor
of the New Ulm RerieW we have been
furnished, In translated form, synopsis |
of his remarks.
Col. w. Pfaender said that the citizens |
of New Ulm had arranged the celebration
of the 25th anniversary of the battle OF
New Ulm manly for the purpose OF
bringing all the survivors ofthat memoir
able struggle together once more, not
only to express to them all the warmest
gratitude for their bravery and herolsm,
but to satisfy themselves how New Ulm
has recovered from the effects of the
terrible struggle of '62.
He gave brief history of the early
settlement of New Ulm, beginning in
1854 He stated that at the time of the
outbreak New Ulm contained about 200
buildings with 800 inhabitants, that the
surrounding country was in fiourishing
condition, excellent crops were harvest
ed. when suddenly the peaceable seftle-
| ment was changed into a battlefield.
! The advance and bloody work of the
sayages i'm the town of Milford, seven
miles west of New Ulm, having been
somewhat checked by the accidental ex-
cursion of recruiting party consisting
OF citizens of New Ulm, time was given
to prepare for the reception of the In
dams at New Ulm, but with few arms
and inadequate ammunition 1t was hard
task for the citizens and pioneers of the
surrounding country who escaped and
fiocked into the town, to repel the fierce
attack of the 18th of August. knowing
however that the lives OF all their loved
ones and their cherished homes were
at stake, the pioneers, who mostly con.
sisted OF Germans, reinforced by small
number who arrived from ST. Peter dur
ing the day made gallant defense so
that the sayages We're forced to with
draw.
AS one of those, who at that time were
battling another enemy hundreds of
miles away and who had no idea OF
what happened at their homes, he had
particular occasion, to offer to the bra
very of the settlers and all those who
FASTENED to the defense of New Ulm
from others parts of the Minnesota val
ley, the gratitude which their bravery Sc
well deserved, for if they had succumb.
ed the frmilies of the absent Union sol.
diers would have shared the terrible
fate which was the sad lot of SO many
families of frontiersmen.
, AS it was evident that other outbreaks
of the hostilities would follow, it would
, have probably been impossible to hold
, the town without reinforcements and
therefore it is solemn duty to tender
our warmest thanks to those of our fel
> /, low citizens who lett their own homes
to assist in the defense of this place, fol
i after the Indians had IN vain tried tC
! take Fort Ridgely they returned more
: determined than ever before, to wipe
q out New Ulm and its defenders and were
. on Tuesday, August oath, again re
Z pulsed and withdrew, never TO return
q again.
\ During the weeks siege and fights thu
town was reduced by fires to about 81
. buildings, remaining III the center, ant
Z it was deemed impossible to keep 81
r large number of people together will
/ the limited accommodations and neces
/ saries of life, it was decided to eyaeuat'
:, the town, and on account of the Unite
> means Of transportation the inhabitant
were forced TO leave, almost destitute .
r everything, many never returning t.
o their former homes.
The speaker expressed his conviction
that the recollections of those dark day!
p should be sufficient to bind the suryiv
= ors together, to stand by each other II
q peace and friendship through their re
= naming days, and referring to beanti
full poem dedicated to New Uim by Gen
:, +. Slgel after the terrible destruction by
cyclone IN 1881 he recited the same ant
:, closed with the following remarks in re
4 ference to the poem.
The encouraging words from such
+ source are more than sufficient TO out
:. weigh the calumnies which have, in con
n sequence of our great misfOrtunes, beer
:, repeated from time to time even from
q the pulpit, Notwithstanding the stronges
:. proofs of their injustice and falsity
:. That all calumnies and opposition can
f not dispute the fact, that not only b,
4 the adherance to German customs ant
n bv efforts to perpetuate the virtues o
n the German character, but by the devo
ton and patriotism to the country o
y their adoption and particularly, by tn,
!. upceasing efforts in the interest of com
- mon schools aud education, New Uln
can hardly be surpassed.
, Our satisfaction rests in our own con
:; science, and boldly we can meet thos,
Il who in the hour of danger have lent III
" their helping hand. and can assure then
q that their aid has not been bestowed up
). on unworthy people, and that in the
: hearts of every inhabitant of New Uln
, a warm feeling of gratitude will ever bt
! nourished for the gallant defenders o
! our town.
To confirm the sincerity of this feelin.
! the speaker proposed to give the de-
tenders from abroad three hearty cheer,
which were given with a will and &
tiger.
: Hon. John Lind also made an address
as follows:
' Defenders of New Ulm and Ladies anG
Gentlemen:
2 TWENTY-FIVE years ago at this hour yes
: terdav, the ground which we now occu,
} ply was held by the blood-thirsty Sioux
! and this was not the only point. They
surrounded the town on every side
| mourning bullets and shot into the midst
:, of the village without cessation. Wonder
was cluster of houses, some of which
: vet remain, Scared and riddled on that
memorable day, in which were huddled
, together from cellar to attic almost q
thousand of women and children. Moth
ing between them and death-nothing
ing between them and savage appetite
) and the scalping knife, but this handful
of brave and resolute men whom you
are now honorIng and welcoming as the
,, HDefenders of New Ulm." 1t is as I'M
| possible to convey a correct Idea OF the
situation, as it would be to accurately
describe the freaks and fury ola cyclone,
but we can imagine the terror that
i reigned: These hundreds of women
and children crowded together in q liy.
ING mass, some wild with fear, others
with grief over loved ones killed, OF
lost. The flames ofthelr burning homes,
the sight of the dead; the cries OF the
wounded, the unearthly war Whoop OF
the savage, and dark suggestions to use
. Il A.,